Shock-absorber.



R. S. CARTER.

SHOCK ABSORBER. APPLICATION-,FILED FEB. 4, 1916.

Patented 00L 7,1919.

' INVENTOR Awash/Eya citizen of the United States,

neuritis,

snares 'rararrr carton.

-BUSSELL S. CAETER, F HEWLETT, NEW YORK.

sheen-assesses.

" kind of shock absorbing mechanism which inobiles or other vehicles, being an improvel ebruary 8,1916.

utilizes the combined resistance of a confined liquid and a spring-yielding means to suppress and control the shock motlons between the spring-conneoted parts of auto-- ment upon the shock absorbing mechanism disclosed inmy Patent No. 1171169, dated Among other things the invention consists in providing the liquidconfining chamber withan elastic chamber wall having a large area-exposed to the liquid whereby it is capable of temporarily absorbingand storing a-substantial part of the impact energy of the shock while also it controlling the size of the fiber passage results are attained by combining liquid.

around the piston, and as applied to the shock absorber of the atoresaid application, it consists in supplementing the energy-stor- .1ng functions of the spring yielding member, therein described, by a further energyabsorbing spring contained in or forming part of the casing of the device. Superior resistance with spring resistances of graded degrees of strength or stiii'ness and preferably so arranged that both or all of them co operatein controlling the size of the liquidpiston, one yielding readily than the producing a live-resistance retarding effect as distinguished from the dead res1stance eiiects of ordinary liquid dashpots. lhe

principles of the invention and the prc- 1 fQIYQCl means of applying the same,

will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure l is a side elevation of the inrproved shock absorber with the hub arm connection broken away and in section.

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of Fig. l,

. partly broken away.

Fig. 3 a cross-section of Fig. 2, on line Fig. s: a larger scale partial section through the hub' axis on line lV-IV 0t Fig.1.

7 Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 7, 1919.

' Application {nd February 4, 1916. Serial No. 76,103.

Fig. 5 is a rear elevation of the hub, on the same scale as Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is an assemblage perspective view of the hub packing and arm connection, and

Fig. 7 is adetail of the hub arm.

, In the example shown bythese fi ures, the casing constituting the liquid-con ing chamber is of general sector shape and made of sheet metal in a body part and a cover part, eachof which is of such dimensions that it can be pressed to finished shape from flat sheet-metal stock, and hence be economically produced. The two parts of the chamber are joined by bolting their respective Qfianges 1 and 2 together and upon an interposed gasket. The opposite side walls 3 of the chamber are substantially fiat and parbut the peripheral or sector-shaped body wall l is relatively stifi by reason of its re-. inforceinent by the bolt-flanges l and 2, which for thispurpose are disposedfwithin the planes of the side walls 3 as indicated (Fig. 2). A connection arm 5 is secured to the casing by its curved and widened edge 6, which is spot-welded to the cover flange 1 and also bolted thereto by one of the flange bolts which unite the sections. This connection arm is made separately from the chamber and attached to it, for the reason, first, that it maybe attached either to the upper or the lower part of he casing (as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1), and thus adapting the device to serve as a righthand or left-hand absorber, as desired; and, second, for the simplification of manufacture and obvious economy of material. At the hub part of the casing, the sheet metal side walls? arebossed outwardly, forming end seats 7 and 7 for the hub 8. of the piston 9. The seat 7 in the body part of the casing is initially dished inwardly and provided with a central teat is in place, the teat engages resiliently its 10 so that when the hub allel and adapted to yield under the pressure of the liquid, as presently explained,

fiat end, about as shown in Fig. 4:. The a hub seat 7* in the cover member is centrallyperforated to accommodate the reduced end of the hub which projects to the exterior of .the casing for connection to the hub' arm .and the margin of the perforation issin'nlarly initially dished inward so that it may also-bear resiliently upon the end of the bly against the.

surf ace of a packing washer 11 counter which is self-compensating for wear by rea- .bulkier construction.

son of the spring pressure, and it will be observed that the joint is also sealed in very compact form, that is to say by means which permit the hub-armv 16 to be secured to the hub at a minimum distancefrom the casing wall, which thus adapts the device as a whole to be connected to the automobile in positions that might not be available for a The end of the hub beyond the washer-shoulder 14 is squared or otherwise angularly shaped for attachment to the hub arm 16 which is provided with a connection bushing 17 adapting it to be attached to the hub in different angular relations.

It will be understood that the two c0nnection arms 5 and 16, are intended to be pivotally connected, respectively, to the spring-connected parts of the automobile, sa for instance to the chassis frame indicated at 18, and the spring or spring shackle 19, the provision for changing the angular relation of the hub and hub arm being to adapt the device for connection to vehicles having different normal separation of the sa1d parts andretam at the same time a deslred normal. or mid position of the piston. For this purpose the split bushing 17 is fitted to the square hub and pei'ipherally serrated to engage and interlock with corre-. spending serrations 20 in the hole of the arm (Fig. 7). The said arm 16 is formed of sheet metal folded over on itself and against an interposed filler block 21 to which it is welded, the bushing hole with the serrations 20 being formed in the thickened end thus produced. The bushing hole is also split as indicated at so that the arm may be contracted edgewise to clamp around the bushing. The split maybe punched in' the sheet anetal arm when it isblanked out,

" and when the slot is formed therein prior to its folding, if desired. The hole for theclamp bolt is provided by the open space left between the end of the filler block 21'and the curve of the bent over part. hen thelnishinglnis been placed on the squared end otthe hub and against the spring washer l5 thereon, the hub arm may be interlocked on the bushing at the desired angle to the hub and then the hub and its bushing are forced against the washer putting it and the packing washers l1 and li,

under compression, whereupon the clamp bolt 24 is tightened, which not only binds the arm on the bushing, but also bindsthe bushing on the squared hub and thus locks all the parts in that relation. The end of the hub is drilled and tapped at 29 to permit a wide-headed screw to be used to force the arm home and put the packing washers under compression, such screw or tool being subsequently removed. The clamp bolt 2% is so located as to occupy a notch 25 in the corner of; the squared end of the hub when in place, which of course keys the arm thereon against accidental displacement. The desired, angular adjustment of the arm and hub is determined in practice by observing theposition of the pointer 27 on the washer 15 with reference to some index mark onthe casing (not shown) the said washer being formed to surround the small shoulder 14, which it fits, only in one-post tion. The clamp bolt is accommodated to the difl'erent possible positions (if the bush-- ing in the arm, by milling the groove 28 therein so that it bends around the squared hub end, as shown in Fig. 1, thus allowing the bolt 24 to key with the bushing and the hub in variousdifl'erent angles as will be evident.

The piston member 9 is mounted within the chamber in a diametral slot in the hub and with sufiicient looseness to provide a lost angular motion of about four degrees,

thereby adapting the hub to oscillate through an angle of such extent without imparting movement to the piston. The piston is the prin'iary spring-yielding member of the device and consists of a series of spring leaves of graded length and flush edges, and all of them being clamped together and constituting a spring approximatingthe strength of the vehicle spring. The piston slot is also somewhat longer in the direction of the hub axis than the width of the piston, so that the latter may thus center i'tselt' between the side walls 3 and thus avoid wear on either of them, the width of the piston b. mg substantially that of the interior of theliquid chamber l The preferred form of piston mounting is illustrated in Figs. 3 and 5. The ends of the boltor rivet .30 which unites the sprihg leaves. are rounded, and the piston slot is also similarly rounded, but on a slightly larger radius,'th.us producing a limited ball and socket joint which is adequate toreta-in the piston in place while in action, but permits it to be slipped out of the hubwhen the latter is removed. The piston thus held in the hub by its relation to the other parts, no special appliances being necessary to this end,

The arcuate end wall of the sector-shaped casing is faced with an elastic false wall 31 of the full 'idth of the chamber and heldin place by a lug spot-welded to the nterior of the body part of the casing all by an adjusting screw threaded in the curved end Wall l. at about its center and projecting to the exterior of said wall where it is subiect to manipulation for adjustment in any convenient manner. This wall 31 is co-- extensive in leng'tlrwith Che normal stroke oi the piston, and preferably with he maximum stroke thereof, and 1 3 formed of spring steel of considerable stillness being treeto' flex centrally outward, away from the pis ton but not to approach the piston further than allowed by the adjustment of the screw 83. lt may be introduced into the chamber without previous curvature so that its tendency is always to return to a straight position. The casing is .illed more or less completely with a liquid resistance mediuiin castor oil being suitable, through the filler plug 34 and is thereupon ready for use as soon as the piston member has been adjusted to midposition for normal vehicle loads, as above explained, and the adjusting screw has been set to accommodate the'value of such load. It will be evident that tor minor vibrations of the vehicle springs, the piston hub will. rotate freely use casing without encoun- 'tering resistance since, because of the lost motion connection, the piston is not s oved by ininor vibrations of the hub. On. vibrations of larger magnitude however the pis ton will be moved in one direction or the other, and will" impart to the liquid in front or it a degree of pressure corresponding in a general way to thesuddenness with which the vibration was experienced. The result of such pressure flexes one or both of the spring yielding members, openingup a flow I passage around the free end of the oscillating piston. The elastic chamber wall is preferably of a less degree of strength than the spring piston and consequently yields 5 the more readily, but such yielding is dependent upon the escape; of liquid behind it, and for this purpose a vent hole 35 is provided at one ofits ends and preferably such hole is disposed at that end of the W chamber which the piston approaches in its mo ven it corresponding to the recoil of the vehicle spri gs. Upward movement of the 1g, 1 corresponds to the impact movementoi the vehicle n the piston is performing ll cutwarrlly and he liquid behind the spring-connected parts of the vehicle, corre- 10 piston to its normal or neutral position, the

allel with the direction of flow and is sub- ]ect to displacement to greater or less extent in proportion to the pressure in the liquid, that is to say, for one shock the said wall might yield merely to a mid-position, whereso as on a maximum shock it would yield the full extent permitted. The said elastic wall exposes a large area to the pressure of the liquid, substantially equal, when in action,

to the active area of the piston, and thereby the effect cl? its resilience is imparted to the retarding action of the device in substantial degree, aiding materially in producingthe live resistance efiect above referred to.

, It should be noted, moreover, that in the so preferred form of this invention as illustrated in the drawings and above described, and by virtue of the pressurecommunication between opposite' sidesof the wall 31, the

action of the device involves a resistance cycle which is specially useful and desirable inautomobilcs and similar vehicles, and the combination of slioclcabsorbing mechanism involving such a cycle, with the spring-conhected parts of the automobile, constitutes i an important part of my invention, independent'of the particular mechanism by which provided. It will be observed that departure from their normal position of the spending, for example, to the upward movement from its mid-position of the piston 9, encounters a progressively increasing resistance, due to the fact,'first, that the piston is much stiffer. than the yielding walllll, and, second, that the area of the latter exposed to the liquid under. pressure is constantly diminishing, with the resultthat the said wall by reason of its elasticity tends to resume its initial position, thereby restrictingf the capacity of the flow passage around the end of the piston. On the return movementof the vehicle parts (correspond-- inc to the downward stroke oi the piston 9, the relative immovability of the wall 31 prescribes a constant capacity of the said flow passage to the full end of the stroke in the downward direct-ion (assuming a given force of shock). On the upward movement of the resistance encountered until the piston reaches and passes the vent 35, is substantially constant and after passing the vent increases'througli any further roward movement, although itprightcOntinue constant or 180 even'decreasing, depending upon the relation between the shock pressure and the resilience of the wall 31. After passing the neutral point in the upward direction, however, the resistance eneounterwl will, in any event, be an increasing resistance, due to the eccentricity of the end wall 4, which mechanically limits the outward deflection ot' the wall 31. Thus, the spring-connected vehicle parts encounter an increasing resistance to the departure from normal position, a substantially constant. resistance throughout the whole of the stroke in the opposite direction, and an increasing or substantially constant resistance back to their normal position, this cycle being slightly but favorably modified by the change of effective lever length of the members due to the change of their angularity, nd being also lndependent of the pistons flexure.

It will be apparent also that the opposing flat side walls 3 of the sheet metal casing likewise expose a very considerable area to the pressure of the liquid, and by making these side walls thin. enough and of appropriately tough material, they may be caused to supplement the function of the elastic wall 31, it being evident that they may bulge outwardly to a considerable extent without deforming the casing, and that by such bulging they operate to increase the flow passage around the piston, that is to say, around the side edges thereof.

The adjusting screw 33 is provided with an adequate screw-threaded bearing in the end Wall of the casing, by punching and bossing the same outwardly and reinforcing if necessary. The hole for the filling plug 34 is also formed through the top of the casing and the lug 32. The latter is Welded to the casing adjacent to the connection arm 5, and according to the position of the latter, in right or left hand absorbers, being preferably always at the top so as to serve as reinforcement to the hole tor the plug 34, which is at the top. IVhile the shape of the liquid containing chamber is not of the essence of my invention, yet it nevertheless is pertinent to explain that the radial walls thereof are sutliciently sloped from exactly radial position to he encountered first by the tip end of the spring piston, so that the resilience of the latter serves to cushion the shock of engagement it the parts should on emergency ever reach such extreme position and thereby the device and other parts are safeguarded against injury from ahnormal conditions.

(.laims.

I 1. A vehicle shock absorber comprising in combination a liquid confining chamber, a yielding piston member therein around which the liquid flows under the effect of the shock pressures, and an elastic Cl'lftfllbe]? wall of relatively large area exposed to the confined liquid and resiliently yielding to diti'erent degrees of displacement from its idle posit ouand proportionately to the degree of pressure of said liquid thereon, whereby the said wall resiliently affects the relative movement of the parts.

2. In a shock absorber, a chamber inchiding an elastic wall and adapted for connection to one of the parts between which the shock is to be absorbed, a piston member in said chamber connected to the other part and adapted to oscillate alongside of the said elastic wall, and a body of liquid confined in said chamber and adapted to'flex said wall.

3. A sl'lock-absorher con'iprising a piston mounted on a hub and oscillating within achamber containing liquid, said chamber having an elastic wall coextensive with the normal stroke of said piston and subject to fiexure. by the pressure of the liquid thereagainst.

4. A. shoclcabsorber comprising a chamher formed of sector-shaped side Walls and containing liquid. an oscillating, hub-m unt ed spring-yielding piston therein occupying the space between said side walls, an areshaped wall opposed to the free end of the piston and normally separated from said piston further at the middle of its stroke than near the end of its stroke, and means for varying the extent of such separation.

A shock-absorber comprising a chamber containing liquid, a piston member therein, a passage whereby the liquid'may flow from one side to the other of said chamber, an elastic chamber wallconstituting a all for said passage,andadjustmcntmeans for flexing said wall to vary said passa e.

(5. A shoclcabsorber comprising a clamber containing liquid, a piston therein, an elastic chamber wall constituting a wall of a passage through which the liquid flows from one side to the other. of the piston, and adjustment means for flexing said wall away from the. piston at about the mid-point of the latt-ers stroke. I I I 7.- In a shock-absorber, a liquid-containing chamber, a hub journaled the-rein, an oscillating blade on the hub adapted to impart the shock pressure to the liquid, and an elastic chamber wall adjacent the free end 01 the blade adapted to be moved by the pressure of the liquid and thereby serving to control the flow ot' the liquid in the chamber. i

8. In a. shock-absorber, a casing forming a chamber containing ]iquid, a hub therein, a spring-yielding blade mounted on the hub and adapted to cause the liquid to flow around the flexed end thereof, the mid region ot' the chamber wall 'adjacent the said end of the blade being adjustable toward and away from the same.

9. In a shock absorber, the combination of a liquid-confining chamber, a spring-yielm; ing piston member exerting pressure on the liquid, and an elasti c ,.cham1ber wall" 95 posed to the pressure''of the liquid, 'both said member and wall being adapted to temporarily store the shock energy.

10. In a shock absorber the combination of a liquid-confining chamber, an elastic piston member therein and an elastic chamber wall exposed to the pressure of the liquid, said member andwall possessing different degrees of spring strength and both operating to temporarily store the shock energy.

11. In a shock absorber, the combination of a liquid-confining chamber, a piston mov abl'e therein, an elastic chamber Wall extending alongside the path of the piston and exposed to the pressure of the liquid therein and supported to have its maximum yield at substantially the mid-point thereof.

12. In a 'shock absorber, the combination of a liquid-confining casing composed of body and cover parts, one of said parts having asheet metal side, wall subject to expansion, and a spring-yielding piston mounted in said casing and adapted for movement oetween and parallel with said side wall and adapted to impart pressure to the liquid to expand the same.

13. In a shockabsorber, the combination f a liquid-confining chamber, a piston member therein, an elastic wall in said cham her subject to flexure away from the piston by the pressure of the confined liquid, and means controlling the escapeof liquid behind said wall and thereb determining the extent or period of its sai flexure.

14. In a shock absorber, the combination of a liquid-confining casing, a hub therein, a spring-yielding piston member having lost motion connection with the hub, and an elastic wall in said chamber subject to displacement by the pressure of the liquid, therein.

15. A shock absorber comprising a sub;- stantially sector-shaped casing formed oi. pressed sheet metal sections secured together and initially devoid of connection means, a hub-mounted piston havinga connection arm secured to its hub, and a sheet-metal connection arm for saidcasing, formed separately therefrom and having an attachment edge adapted to fit either the upper or lower parts of thearcuate end of said casing and permanently secured to one of said parts, whereby the absorber may be made right or left handed accordingto the position of said connection arm.

60 16. The combination with the spring-com nected parts of a vehicle, of shoclr-abs'orbing mechanism connected therebetween and comprising a liquid-containing chamber, a piston member therein and a variable re- 65 sistance element moved by and controlling mid-position and -a substantially constant lot a liquid-confining member within the the liq-iiidflow to opposite sides of the piston member and co-acting therewith tooppose increasing resistance to the relative mov 1 ment of the piston away-from its normalor '70 resistance throughout its full stroke in the opposite direction,

17. In a shock' absorber, the combination chamber, a slotted cylindrical hub fitting therein, and an oscillating piston member loosely engaged in the slot in said hub and adapted to impart the shock pittssures to the liquid, whereby the latter flows around said piston member.

18. In a shock absorber, the combination of a liquid'confin'ing chamber, a hub therein, a spring piston carried by said hub and composed'of assembled spring plates secured together independently of the hub and removable as aunit therefrom.

19. A shock absorbencomprisinga sectorshaped liquid-containing chamber formed of pressed'sheet metal cover and body portions having flanged connection joints between the planes of their sidewalls whereby the peripheral Wall of said chamber is rendered relatively non-yielding to internal pressures, a hub journaled in said body and cover ortions, respectively,

and a spring-yiel mg piston member oscillated by the hub and imparting shock pressuresto the liquid.

20. A shock absorber comprising a liquidconfining chamber and formed; of pressed sheet metal cover and body portions, both of which portionsare stamped with hub- 10c receiving bosses, the center of one of said bosses bein bent inwardlyto form an end bearing, a ub journaled in' said bosses, an

oscillating piston blade carried by the hub within the casing, and a connection arm mounted on thehub outside of the casing.

21. A shock absorber comprising a liquidconfining chamber, a hub carrying a piston chamber and having a connection part extended through a' hole' is the wall of the casing, packing, washers on opposite sides of thehnargin of said hole, and a connection arm on the outer end of the hub adapted to maintain the washers under pressure upon said margin.

22. A shock absorber comprising a chamber containing liquid, a hub journaledtherein carrying an oscillating piston within the chamber and having a connection part extended through a hole in the wall of the chamber, in combination with a connection arm 16 formed of sheet-metal folded over and welded to a filler block 21 and attached to the outer end of said hub. I

23. A shock absorber comprising a chamber containing liquid, a hub journaled therein carrying an oscillating piston within the chamber and having a connection part extended through the wall thereof, a bushing non-rotatably engaged with said connection ing non-rotatably ye carrying an oscillating:

part, a connection arxn embracing the pebetween the adjacentall of the chamber and the end of said connect on-part for ,se-

curing said arm andbushing thereto. I 24. A shock absorber comprising a. liqu1d- 'aghub "j ournaled therein 'isto'n Within the confining chamber I casing and having a-con ectionjpart extending through the well-thelreoffla split bushg'gid te -said connec;

t1on part, a connection ghgiving a split hub part embracing""theflbnshing and angularlyadjustable' w ith reference thereto,

- and clamping' mean forsimultaneously closing said hub upon/the bushing and the bushing hub.

25. A shock absorber comprising a liquidcontaining chamber, a piston therein, a pasupon the connection part of the sage whereby the liquid-may flow from one riphery of the bushinggandmeans disposed side to the otherof said piston, an elastic wall'for said passage adapted to yield to the' liquid pressure and thereby vary the capacity of said passage and adjustable means for variably limiting the return movement of said yvall. 1

26. In a shock absorber the combination of a casing, a body of resistance liquid therein adapted to flow from one side of the casing to the other under the effect of the shock pressure and means for imparting the pressureto-cause such flow comprisingdtwo spring-yleldmg members respectively possessmg dlfi'erent degrees of spring strength and operating to temporarily store the shock I energy,

In testimony whereof, I have signed this specification.

- RUSSELL S. CARTER. 

